nuclear-news

Pakistan criticises USA double standards on nuclear weapons

Dr Shireen M Mazari said that if Pakistan’s nuclear status is recognised, as done in case of India, we will be in a position to consider FMCT…….
Shireen said that India not only has a much larger stockpile of weapon grade nuclear material but has also entered into a nuclear co-operation agreement with US, which allows it to import nuclear fuel from US for energy purposes, enabling it to produce material potentially be used for military purposes.

Dual US standards on nuclear proliferation criticised, Business Redorder, Pakistan, RAJA AQEEL & ZULFIQAR AHMADISLAMABAD (January 23, 2011) : Former caretaker foreign minister Inamul Haq has termed Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) as an attempt to cap Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities but UN permanent five members are legitimately possessing nuclear weapons in the presence of Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Speaking at workshop titled, ‘The CTBT and Beyond,’ organised by Strategic Technology Resources (STR) on Saturday, he said that FMCT will give India free hand to stockpile fissile material.
He said that existing stocks of fissile materials should be gradually reduced, eventually eliminating them with a schedule to transfer these stockpiles for civilian use with verification while transfers must be initiated by the states with the largest stockpiles of such materials.

This would require nuclear weapon states to irreversibly down-blend existing stocks of weapons-grade fissile materials, ensuring they could never be used for weapons again, he added.
He said that FMCT is a ploy by the US against Pakistan, if stocks are depleted, it would increase disparities vis-à-vis India. He was of the view that US may attempt to use economic pressure to force Pakistan to give up fissile materials production and stockpiling which is totally against the strategic interest of Pakistan……
Dr Shireen M Mazari said that if Pakistan’s nuclear status is recognised, as done in case of India, we will be in a position to consider FMCT…….
Shireen said that India not only has a much larger stockpile of weapon grade nuclear material but has also entered into a nuclear co-operation agreement with US, which allows it to import nuclear fuel from US for energy purposes, enabling it to produce material potentially be used for military purposes. India-US civil nuclear deal has altered the balance in the region, she said, strongly advocating for similar energy deal for Pakistan, putting aside the discriminatory attitude, which the US is resorting to at present.

General News – Pakistan – Dual US standards on nuclear proliferation criticised

January 23, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Pakistan, politics international